This post
will be another quickie. Much as I want to document the most recent Cockabilly,
I got back from my American misadventures on 11 April (I went to the annual
Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekender – first time since 2013 – followed by a few
days bar-hopping in decadent New Orleans) and devoting an epic tell-all blog to
that soon while the putrid details are still relatively fresh in my addled mind
is top priority.

Happily, this
was one of the best Cockabilles in ages. I had friends in attendance (Pal and
Christopher) and no one behind the bar gestured to Mal and I to turn the volume
down once all night. (Trust me – there is no greater buzz kill for a DJ!). It definitely
made for a more liberating and raucous atmosphere. (Well, that and copious
beer).

Musically in
my tight and succinct hour-long set I whipped together greasy rhythm and blues,
frenzied rockabilly white trash rockers, some twisted atomic-era kitsch pop
inspired by Kenneth Anger and David Lynch soundtracks (“I've Told Every Little Star” unforgettably features in Lynch’s Mulholland Drive), then brought things
to a punk-y conclusion. (The Bobby Bare track was my tribute to 1950s horror movie hostess Maila Nurmi (1922 - 2008) - I bought not one but two Vampira t-shirts in Las Vegas!). My best new recent discovery (via my friend Kevin in
New Orleans) is The Ramonetures, who do tough, twang-y instrumental surf
versions of punk songs by The Ramones and X. (The Ramonetures aren't new: their
debut Ramones cover album came out in 2000 and their X-related follow-up Johnny
Walk Don’t Run Pauline in 2001 – but they’re new to me! And destined to become
a staple in my sets).

If you like this kind of thing (and who doesn't?): see a treasure trove of sexy 1950s biker imagery redolent of Kenneth Anger's Scorpio Rising or Marlon Brando in The Wild One here. The jeans, biker caps, engineer boots and leather jackets are to die for!